According to statistics from CSPPLAZA, the global installed capacity of concentrated solar power (CSP) increased by 900 MW in 2025 (note: based on grid-connected capacity), bringing the total capacity to approximately 8,707 MW.
In 2025, China successfully connected nine CSP projects with a total capacity of 900 MW to the grid. Compared to the total installed capacity at the end of 2024, this represents a doubling in growth. The Chinese market has become the primary driver of global installed capacity expansion.
In 2025, a sharp contrast emerged between domestic and international CSP markets: the domestic market experienced a surge in construction activity, with installed capacity continuing to rise, while the overseas market remained relatively quiet, with no commercial CSP projects commissioned throughout the year and only limited progress on a few initiatives.
By the end of 2025, China’s total installed capacity of operational CSP projects reached approximately 1,756 MW, maintaining its position as the third-largest globally. Among these, China has 21 operational commercial CSP plants with a total capacity of 1,700 MW.
China also possesses a substantial pipeline of projects under construction. Currently, in solar resource-rich regions such as Qinghai, Xinjiang, Gansu, Tibet, and Jilin, nearly 30 CSP projects are steadily advancing, with a total capacity of approximately 3 GW. Among these, Tibet has emerged as a new growth area, with CSP projects under construction totaling 400 MW, second only to Xinjiang (1,150 MW) and Qinghai (1,100 MW).
It is worth noting that with the commencement of two 350 MW CSP projects in Qinghai, China’s CSP industry has officially transitioned from the first batch of demonstration projects and integrated wind-solar-thermal systems to a new phase of large-scale development featuring high parameters and large capacities. This will lay the groundwork for subsequent efforts to advance the construction of 600 MW-class CSP plants.
It is foreseeable that the Chinese market will continue to make a central contribution to the global growth of CSP installed capacity in 2026. With more projects coming online and guided by the ambitious goal of achieving 15 GW of installed capacity by 2030, China is projected to rise to the top globally in installed capacity by 2026 and maintain this leading position for the foreseeable future.
